There’s another dining special event coming to Walt Disney World this fall during the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival to shame. Here are details & details, including prices and why we’re pleased to see more being added to the culinary calendar.
Let’s start with basics. The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will begin on August 27, 2026 and run through November 21, 2026. It’s still unknown whether this year’s foodie festival will be back to 2019 normal, with its full slate of seminars, special dinners, celebrity chef panels, and various enhancements. We assume not. These have been absent for the past few years and seem unlikely to return in 2026. Or ever.
Instead, Walt Disney World seems comfortable with third parties filling the void. As previously reported, the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic will return for its 17th year this fall from November 20-21, 2026. This fan-favorite event features unlimited food and beverage offerings from the hotel’s wide array of restaurants and more, and is hugely popular. Hence this being its 17th year! Now, another special event is joining Walt Disney World’s culinary lineup…
Uncorked at Wine Bar George is a new signature culinary event series bringing together the best of food and wine through a season of immersive, expert-led experiences. From chef-led demonstrations and inspired food & wine pairings to in-depth tasting experiences, each event is crafted for those who love to eat, drink, and discover.
Hosted at Disney Springs, Uncorked at Wine Bar George is where curiosity meets the glass, and every sip tells a story.
Uncorked at Wine Bar George 2026 Schedule
- Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 3:00PM: The Mosel, a Riesling Master Class
- Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 3:00PM: Sliders & Somms
- Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 3:00PM: Craft Cocktails
- Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 3:00PM: Five Decades of Dunn, Howell Mountain Cabernets
- Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 3:00PM: Truffles, Pasta & the Perfect Pour
- Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 3:00PM: The Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Experience
Additionally, Wine Bar George’s “Learn to Taste Wine Like a Master Sommelier” experience will continue through the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival season. Tickets for all of these events are now available for purchase via the official Wine Bar George website.
More details about each signature seminar are below, followed by our commentary about Uncorked at Wine Bar George and the bigger-picture of what was once Walt Disney World’s flagship fall foodie festival…
Saturday, September 5, 2026: The Mosel: a Riesling Master Class ($180)
This event offers an intimate exploration of one of Germany’s most storied wine estates, Selbach-Oster, based in the village of Zeltingen on the banks of the Mosel River. For eleven generations, the Selbach family has been crafting Rieslings that capture the essence of this landscape. This tasting traces the full arc of what makes Mosel Riesling so captivating: from crisp, mineral-driven dry styles to the delicate sweetness and electric acidity of Kabinett and Spätlese. Celebrate these wines with fun German faire including a decadent cheese fondue and sauerkraut croquettes.
Saturday, September 12, 2026: Sliders & Somms ($85)
Wine and food pairings don’t have to be intimidating, and this will use the humble slider to prove it. Wine Bar George’s sommelier and culinary team will walk you through a lineup of perfectly paired wines and sliders, exploring how flavors interact, contrast, and elevate each other. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or just getting started, Sliders & Somms is an approachable, hands-on experience that will change the way you think about how what’s in your glass and on your plate interact.
Saturday, September 19, 2026: Craft Cocktails ($75)
This demonstration guides guests through the art and creativity of cocktails, exploring inventive flavor combinations, house-made ingredients, and the techniques that elevate a cocktail from ordinary to unforgettable. You’ll taste your way through a curated selection of crafted drinks while learning the inspiration and intention behind each one at Wine Bar George.
Saturday, October 3, 2026: Five Decades of Dunn: Howell Mountain Cabernets ($325)
Master Sommelier George Miliotes leads guests through a tasting of 5 vintages of Dunn’s famous Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from the last 5 decades to underscore how well the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ages. Find out the how and why Randy Dunn and his son, Mike, craft the wine that the Wine Bar George team feels is one of the most age-worthy reds in the world.
Saturday, October 17, 2026: Truffles, Pasta & the Perfect Pour ($150)
Chef Will Davison and Chef Ron Rupert take center stage for an intimate and indulgent afternoon dedicated to two of the finest ingredients: fresh pasta and white truffles. Watch as the Wine Bar George chef walks guests through the art of handmade pasta from scratch, while exploring the world of truffles and what makes them so extraordinary. Following that, a sommelier steps in to guide guests through a curated wine pairing perfectly matched to the dish. Equal parts education and indulgence, this is an experience for anyone who wants to learn more about food and wine.
Saturday, November 14, 2026: Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Experience ($1,850)
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti is universally thought of as the holy grail of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. Wine Bar George brings you an extraordinarily rare opportunity to experience three reds; La Tache, Richebourg & Romanee-St-Vivant and one white; Corton-Charlemagne, all from the famed 2022 vintage for guests to savor in 2 ounce pours.
Master Sommelier George Miliotes and Advanced Sommelier Zach Biro will discuss the history, terroir and winery commitment that make any wine from the DRC one of the greatest produced. This event is limited to 11 guests. Obviously, this one has an eye-catching price tag, but a quick Google search on the price ranges of that label reveal why.
You can book the Uncorked by Wine Bar George signature culinary events right now, directly on their official website.
Our Commentary
I’m the wrong guy to ask about wine. My vino wisdom all comes from Frasier and Sideways, and I barely even remember the latter. (Thankfully, Sarah and I have rewatched Frasier about a dozen times, so I can recite most episodes from memory, including the ones where Niles and Frasier compete for the Corkmaster crown.)
It’s great that others are very passionate about wine. It seems like a fun (albeit expensive) thing to obsess over, and the expertise some fans have when it comes to wine is impressive. I just long ago realized I wasn’t a discerning wine guy, and that would never change. And now, we don’t really drink much at all.
Despite this, Wine Bar George has slowly but surely moved up our Disney Springs restaurant rankings and become one of our favorite spots. The food is excellent, and it’s underrated as a restaurant. So part of this post is simply a convenient excuse for drawing attention to a dining spot that’s often overlooked. It’s now top 5 for me, and I say this as someone who has literally never ordered a glass of wine at Wine Bar George.
This also seems like a good excuse for a two-fer, which is that Wine Bar George has recently won some awards. Just last week, The World of Fine Wine named Wine Bar George as having the Best Short Wine List for 2026 in North America, and nominated Wine Bar George for their Global award in this category to be announced September 21, 2026.
According to Wine Bar George, this prestigious recognition is judged by industry experts who evaluate some of the world’s top wine programs. Wine Bar George is hoping to bring home its fifth Best in the World title this September, and they’re honored to be recognized alongside such exceptional wine destinations.
Prior to that, Wine Bar George was recognized by Food & Wine as the #1 Wine Bar You Must Visit in the United States. There are a bunch of other awards listed on their website.
Honestly, as someone who knows nothing about wine, I cannot speak to whether these honors are actually prestigious, or if they’re the wine world equivalent of paid participation awards that a good marketing team can help secure. But I do know that Wine Bar George receives a lot of accolades, and part of the reason we’ve gone here more is because our friends who love wine, love Wine Bar George.
Finally, we want to support special culinary events like Uncorked at Wine Bar George, because we want more restaurants to do things exactly like this. Eventually, maybe that even leads to Walt Disney World seeing the success and finally fixing Food & Wine Festival.
Even though Uncorked at Wine Bar George isn’t for me, there are aspects of these events that are really intriguing. The “Sliders & Somms” seminar sounds fantastic, just minus the whole “Somms” part. In another life, I’m a burgermmolier as opposed to a blogger. And as an avid enthusiast of both truffles and pasta, that also event also looks like it’ll be excellent. If versions of those existed elsewhere without the wine, we’d be all-in. Someone should make a burgers, cookies and coffee event. Maybe toss in truffles to really check all of the right boxes.
If Uncorked at Wine Bar George sells well (and even without knowing anything about this world, I’d expect the pasta and sliders seminars to sell out since they’re the most approachable), maybe other restaurants around Disney Springs do their own twist on this, or third party locations even in the parks. This is more or less our hope with the Parisian Breakfast Buffet at Chefs de France, which also doesn’t interest me personally (especially with the cost for kids!), but sets a good precedent.
As for why ‘setting a precedent’ is something worth covering, it’s because Disney has been phoning it in with the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival for the last 6 years. Last year’s review was titled “EPCOT’s Flagship Foodie Festival is Disney World’s Weakest Annual Event.” The year before that, we referred to Food & Wine as “re-microwaved leftovers.”
Despite being the longest-running, marquee EPCOT event, Food & Wine still is not back to “2019 normal.” The slate of seminars, culinary demonstrations, special dinners, celebrity chef panels, and various enhancements has not returned. Not only that, but the park didn’t even utilize its space for a fresh decor package–it was actually scaled back as contrasted with prior years.
Worse still, the new CommuniCore Hall was not even used during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. When that venue, Disney promised culinary seminars, demonstrations, meals with celebrity chefs, and other special events. With the venue once again being used as GoofyCore Hall for Cool Kids’ Summer (which runs past the start of Food & Wine once again), it’s unlikely that CommuniCore Hall will fulfill its original ambition in 2026.
If Uncorked at Wine Bar George appeals to you, most of these dates can be good times to visit Walt Disney World. About the only one we’d flag as a bad time to visit is the pasta presentation, which coincides with Fall Break. Even that’s the tail end, though, so if you arrive that weekend and stay into the next week, you should be mostly fine.
Otherwise, lots of good times to visit (ignoring weather) in September through December. Many of these events occur during the off-season, and should feature the lowest crowds of the year. See our list of the Best & Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2026 & 2027 on the “best” side.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Thoughts on the Uncorked at Wine Bar George series? Will you be attending one of these seminars? If you’ve dined at Wine Bar George before, what did you think of the food (or wine)? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!